Aston Villa have leeway to seal late deal for player Pep Guardiola loves after Evann Guessand exit
Aston Villa did a great job in securing an Evann Guessand exit plan.
The Ivorian joined the Villans on a permanent deal from OGC Nice in the summer, but Unai Emery has been unable to get the most out of the attacker at Villa Park.
Crystal Palace announced the signing of Guessand on Friday, with the forward now set to stay with the Eagles until the end of the season.
Aston Villa are still in the market for another forward, with Monday’s deadline fast approaching, but the terms in Guessand’s loan exit may favour the Villans in their chances of signing a replacement.
That replacement could be Raheem Sterling, after recent reports.
Evann Guessand’s exit opens door for Raheem Sterling to join Aston Villa
Aston Villa have been mooted to sign Sterling after the winger’s deal with Chelsea was recently terminated.
The Englishman is said to be after a new project and a club that can provide him with game time and stability.
Sterling’s wages would be costly, but Guessand‘s exit can help Villa land their suspected target on a free and potentially low-risk deal.
- Crystal Palace have a buy option of £28million for Guessand
- The loan fee itself was £2million
- The Eagles will now cover a large majority of the 24-year-old’s wages
Several London clubs are also said to be interested in signing the former England international, who has dropped off in form in recent years.
Sterling was loaned out to Arsenal last season, where he also struggled for minutes, but Pep Guardiola‘s thoughts on the forward prove why Villa should try sign him while they can.
Pep Guardiola was in love with Sterling at Man City
Perhaps Sterling’s best time of his career was with Manchester City, as the 31-year-old helped the Citizens to multiple trophy-winning seasons.
His manager at the time, Guardiola, loved him.
“I have said many times what we have done over these incredible years, with the number of titles, breaking records in the process. Raheem is key.
“He was a key player and is a key player,” Guardiola said, as quoted by Sky Sports in 2021.
| Games | 339 |
| Goals | 131 |
| Assists | 94 |
| Trophies | 12 |
Sterling was restricted at Stamford Bridge and suffered from high expectations and poor management, but B6 can offer him a new, warm home.
It would be an ambitious move, but it’s certainly not a transfer that Villa should shy away from.
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